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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: track · scale · coach · nail · face · pop · bay · bear

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. track — a song
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. face — to confront
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. pop — soda
  13. track — a path
  14. pop — to visit
  15. pop — music
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. scale — in music
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. bear — the animal
  20. face — to point toward
  21. face — part of the head
  22. track — to keep track
  23. scale — size or range
  24. coach — pulled by horses

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com